Isfahan University of Medical SciencesResearch in Pharmaceutical Sciences1735-536211220160309Maprotiline inhibits LPS-induced expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) in human endothelial cells138144EN20160309<p>Regardless of the known anti-inflammatory potential of heterocyclic antidepressants, the mechanisms concerning their modulating effects are not completely known. In our earlier work, maprotiline, a heterocyclic antidepressants, considerably inhibited infiltration of polymorphonuclear cell leucocytes into the inflamed paw. To understand the mechanism involved, we evaluated the effect of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression in stimulated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) &nbsp;in the presence and absence of maprotiline (10<sup>-8</sup> to 10<sup>-6</sup> M) and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.<strong> </strong>Maprotiline significantly decreased the LPS-induced expression of VCAM-1 at all applied concentrations. The expression of ICAM-1 decreased in the presence of maprotiline at 10<sup>-6</sup> M concentration (<em>P&lt;</em>0.05). Since maprotiline inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in LPS-stimulated human endothelial cells , it can be a possible way through which maprotiline exerts its anti-inflammatory properties.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>http://rps.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrps/article/view/1683http://rps.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrps/article/download/1683/1642